- Premier reaffirms commitment to press freedom, calls for effective investigation and prosecution of attacks on media workers
- Says government will ensure justice and safety for media professionals, urging global cooperation to defend free expression
- Pledges steps for accountability and protection of media workers, pays tribute to those who lost lives for truth
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding press freedom and ensuring that crimes against journalists are investigated and prosecuted effectively.
In a statement issued on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the prime minister said his government would take concrete measures to strengthen justice mechanisms and protect media professionals from threats, violence, and reprisals.
“Today reminds us that a free, informed, and responsible press is the foundation of any democratic society,” the prime minister said. “Journalists enable public access to facts and are torchbearers of truth. Violence, threats, or reprisals against them while performing their duties are attacks on freedom of expression.”
He paid tribute to journalists who have faced hardships in the line of duty and expressed solidarity with families of media workers who lost their lives while pursuing truth.
“The Government of Pakistan is committed to protecting press freedom and providing a safe environment for journalists,” he said. “We will take measures to ensure effective investigation, justice, and prosecution of crimes against journalists.”
The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, observed annually on November 2, underscores the global demand for justice in cases where journalists are attacked or killed. This year’s theme draws attention to the growing online threats faced by women journalists and their chilling impact on freedom of expression.
Calling for global cooperation, Prime Minister Shehbaz urged the international community, media organisations, and civil society to play their role in ensuring the safety and independence of journalists. “A free press guarantees a strong, transparent, and democratic Pakistan,” he added.
Pakistan remains one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists, facing frequent threats, physical attacks, and a pervasive culture of impunity. In the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Pakistan ranked 158th out of 180 countries.
A day earlier, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) voiced alarm over the worsening situation for media professionals in Pakistan.
According to a statement issued from Islamabad, a delegation of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) met IFJ President Dominique Pradalié and Secretary General Anthony Bellanger at the Syndicat National des Journalistes (SNJ) headquarters in Paris.
“The IFJ leaders expressed deep concern over targeted killings of journalists, misuse of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) to file cases against media workers, undeclared censorship, harassment by state and non-state actors, forced layoffs, and non-payment of salaries,” the statement said.
“They urged Pakistan’s president, prime minister, and top judge to take immediate notice, warning that continued inaction could prompt an appeal to the United Nations for intervention.”
The PFUJ delegation—including Secretary General Shakeel Ahmed, Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists President Tariq Usmani, and Foreign Committee Head Waseem Shahzad Qadri—briefed the IFJ leaders on the ground realities facing Pakistan’s media sector.
